Solar on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But in our little sub-division of Del Norte, you might say every one of us should install solar on the roof, trying to afford pleasant, simple electricity, without breaking our budget. It isn't easy. You may ask, why do we put solar panels up there if it's so expensive? We do so because this planet is our home... And how can we keep the balance of nature and prevent devastating climate change? I can tell you how in one word…Installation!
It was one of those dreams you never forget. I was on a boat about a half mile out on the ocean. I could see the beautiful beach houses lining the shore just past the dunes. The houses were hard to see, but the shiny roofs looked like gems dazzling in the sunshine, in gold, silver, red, and blue. All the roofs were covered with solar panels.
This from Wednesday’s Washington Post:
The United States can scale up production of solar panels, which now provide 3 percent of the nation’s electricity, to 45 percent over the next three decades…
The move, which would transform the nation’s energy industry and infrastructure, shows how President Biden is determined to reshape the economy and cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions…
I got the email today that my house just passed final solar inspection. I’ve gone solar! Today, as I write my last check to the solar company, I wondered if my idealism and grave concerns about climate change, led me to make an unwise investment. All total, going solar cost me a little over $24,000. I should get about half of that back with state and federal tax credits. But I am not just making a financial investment that will pay for itself in seven to eight years; I am making an investment in our country’s future. I am investing in our collective ability to fight the ravages of climate change.
Going solar took far longer than I expected. I signed the contract before the first of June, and although solar panels are now all on the roof, I still have to wait as, “All that needs to happen now is for your utility to come and install your new meter. This could be a few days to a couple weeks or more...”
We need to do more that encourage people to go solar. We need to cut out the needless delays and added expense of endless bureaucratic red tape. The solar company was supposed to put 22 solar panels on my roof. (They recommended 24.) The only put up 20, saying the upgraded panels actually produced more kilowatts of electricity. I protested, as they promised a free upgrade because they couldn’t get the panels I ordered. How could it be a free upgrade, if they reduced the number of panels? I argued that it was liked being moved from flying coach to first class because coach was overbooked, but then refusing to provide the amenities others get in first class. We finally reached a compromise. They agreed to install one more panel, for a total of 21. Fine, except everything then had to be inspected twice, once for the first contract and once for the second, and the only difference on the second was one additional panel. Cutting down on red tape will cut down on costs. It shouldn’t take four months to convert to solar energy.
I also decided not to put any solar panels on the front of my house as the company suggested. I was told the back of my house, which faced south, had better exposure to the sun. Living in South Carolina, we get plenty of sun. In fact, even without generating electricity to power the air-conditioner, the solar panels provide cooling shade for those areas on the back of my house that weren’t shaded by trees.
The solar company suggested I cut down one or two huge trees so more sunlight would hit the rear roof of my house. I refused. For one thing, it would be expensive to remove huge trees. Secondly, what is the point of going solar to save the planet, if you have to kill huge trees to do so? Even the solar company promotes planting trees, saying, “We'll be donating enough for two trees to be planted for every kilowatt installed.” This means they will provide funds for seven trees. Only it would takes decades for seven saplings to remove the amount of carbon one huge tree can remove today. Consequently, I only removed one small tree that was covering the corner of my roof. I didn’t even remove that completely. With the root system intact, it is re-growing, and the new shoots are already about six feet high.
As I look across my street I realize if any of my neighbors on that side of the street decide to go solar, they would need panels on the front of their houses. Not only are there scores of huge trees behind their houses, but the open south roof at the front of their homes would be far more efficient.
But then I got a quarterly newsletter from our Home Owners Association reminding us that covenants prohibit the installation of solar panels on the front of anyone’s home. I know there are already several homes in my neighborhood that not only have solar panels, but have them on the front. What is the HOA going to do? Insist the homeowner remove them? But the very fact the HOA wants to restrict solar panels galls me. The only reason I considered solar panels on the front of my house was to influence other people to also go solar. Every time I saw solar panels on someone else’s roof I thought I should go solar, too. Hide them in the back? What for? Are solar panels ugly? And even if they were (although they’re not), isn’t saving trillions of dollars and billions of lives to prevent catastrophic climate change worth it? It reminds me of those who say they are all for wind-power—as long as the wind turbines don’t obstruct their scenic view.
Recently there has been talk about the benefits of electric vehicles; something else Biden wants to promote. But the electricity for electric vehicles has to come from somewhere. You can’t power a normal vehicle with solar panels, but you can install a charging station at home powered by solar energy.
Admittedly everyone isn’t in a position to go solar. It depends on your budget, where you live, how much sun you get, and other factors. But for those who have been considering going solar I have just one word:
Installation!
